Crystal cat litter is made of silica gel beads, and it works a bit differently than conventional, clay-based clumping litter. Crystal litter absorbs moisture and traps odours inside the crystal beads, but solid waste still needs to be manually scooped. For urine absorption, crystal litter is more effective than conventional, clay-based options, and typically, one bag should last you significantly longer. Moreover, unlike clay-based litter, silica bead-based litter does not produce any dust and it’s also not as sticky, so it’s less likely for your kitty to drag it around the house.